Vehicle lift



July 21, 1936. BAETHGE 2,047,934

VEHICLE LIFT Filed Jan. 29, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l T 1 wwentm' L .Baezhye Attorney July 21, 1936. A. L. BAETHGE 2,047,934

VEHICLE LIFT Filed Jan. 29, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 21, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VEHICLE LIFT Alvin L. Baethge, Ken-ville, Tex.

Application January 29, 1935, Serial No. 3,977

1Claim. (01.25446) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in hydraulic lifts or jacks for vehicles, particularly automobiles, and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an apparatus of this character which is permanently installed on the vehicle ready for operation at all times and which comprises a novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts through the medium of which any or all of the wheels of the vehicle may be expeditiously raised with a minimum of efiort by a person sitting in said vehicle.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a vehicle lift of the aforementioned character which comprises a novel construction and mounting of hydraulic jack for each wheel of the vehicle.

Other objects of the invention are to provide parent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle lifting apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view in rear elevation of one of the jacks.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of one of the jacks.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the line 4& of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a view in horizontal section, taken substantially on the line 5-5 ofv Figure 4.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a plurality of hydraulic jacks which are designated generally by the reference numeral I. The jacks I are mounted for swinging movement on the front and rear axles 2 and 3, respectively, of the vehicle through themedium of hinges 4 to which said jacks are rigidly secured in any suitable manner. When in lowered or operative position, the jacks I are firmly engaged beneath their respective axles 2 and 3, as illustrated to advantage in Figure 4 of the drawings.

Each jack I includes a stationary upper section or cylinder which is closed at its top and in which a lower section 5 is slidably mounted, said upper section being designated by the reference numeral 6. 5

The lower section 5 of each jack l is open at its top for the reception of fluid and is provided with an external flange I. Mounted beneath the flange I for travel in the upper section 6 is a rubber cup washer 8 which is secured in position 0 by a ring 9 which is threadedly mounted on the upper portion of the section 5, a metallic washer I0 being provided between said ring 9 and the cup washer 8. A nut II is threadedly mounted on the lower end of the upper section 6 for prevent- 15 ing withdrawal of the lower section 5 therefrom. As will be readily apparent, the cup washer 8 prevents leakage of the fluid between the sections 5 and 6.

Each jack I still further includes a manually 20 adjustable ground engaging foot I2 which is threadedly mounted in the lower end of the section 5 and which is provided, on its lower end, with a plate I3. The lower section 5 is raised in the upper section 6 through the medium of a 25 coil spring I4 having one end connected to the top of said section 6. The other end of the spring I4 is connected to a swivel I5 on the upper end of the foot I2. The swivel I5 permits the foot I2 to be rotated for adjustment without twisting the spring I4.

The reference numeral I6 designates a reservoir for the reception of a suitable fluid, such as oil, which is mounted beneath the cowl of the vehicle in front of the instrument board. Mounted beneath the reservoir I6 and connected thereto for receiving the fluid therefrom is a pump I! which is manually actuated through the medium of a spring retracted foot lever I8. A check valve I9 is provided between the reservoir I6 and the pump I! for preventing return of the fluid to said reservoir during the power stroke of said pump.

A conduit 20 connects the discharge end of the pump II with a multiple valve unit 2| which is preferably mounted on the instrument board of the vehicle. The valves comprising the control unit 2| are connected by conduits 22 with the jacks I. As best seen in Figure 4 of the drawings, the conduits 22 discharge into check valves 23 which are threadedly mounted in .the upper sections 6 of the jacks I. Fluid return control valves 24 are also mounted on the upper sections 6 of the jacks I and extending from said valves 24 are return conduits 25 to the reservoir 6.

The jacks I are releasably secured in raised or inoperative position through the medium of clamps 26 which are mounted onthe springs 21 of the vehicle. A battery of pull buttons 28 is mounted on the instrument board of the vehicle and connected to the clamps 26 for opening said clamps through the medium of flexible, armor enclosed wires 29.

It is believed that the operationof the apparatus will be readily apparent. When it is desired to lift a certain wheel of the vehicle, the valve of the unit 2| is opened to establish communication between the conduit 20 and the conduit 22 which leads to the jack I which is adjacent that wheel. Of course, the correct clamp 26 is opened to permit the desired jack to swing by gravity to operative or ground engaging position. The pump is then actuated to force fluid from the reservoir it into the jack I which has been lowered, thus forcing the lower section thereof downwardly against the tension of the coil spring M for raising the adjacent wheel of the vehicle. The check valve 23 will prevent return of the fluid through the conduit 22. When it is desired to lower the wheel which has been elevated, the valve 24 is opened in any suitable manner, thus permitting the spring l4 to raise the lower section 5 and eject the fluid through one of the conduits 25 which is connected to the jack being used. The conduits 22 and 25 include flexible end portions 30 (see Figure 1) which permits swinging movement of the jacks I. The conduits '22 and 25 are preferably of copper while the end portions 30 thereof are preferably of rubber. Any suitable means may be employed for raising the jacks l into engagement with the retaining clamps 26.

It is believed that the many advantages of a vehicle lift constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, and although a preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:-

A vehicle jack comprising, in combination, upper and lower telescopic sections, a hinge including a pair of flat pivotally connected members, one of said members being connected to the rear portion of the upper section in longi tudinal alignment therewith and extending beyond the upper edge, the other member being normally in operative position of the jack disposed at a right angle to the other member and secured to the frame of the vehicle, the upper end of the upper section abutting said frame, said'jack being adapted to be raised from said aforementioned operative position to a position substantially parallel to the ground, a manually adjustable ground engaging foot threadedly mountedin the lower end of th lower section and extending longitudinally thereinto, and a retracting spring mounted in said sections, and having one end anchored to the upper section and its lower end swivelly connected to the upper end of the foot for permitting vertical adjustment of said foot without twisting said spring.

ALVIN L. BAE'I'HGE. 

